NASCAR Files For Emergency Stay
NASCAR has requested and has been granted a hearing by Judge Marvin H. Shoob to stay today’s decision. The hearing will be held at 11:30am/et tomorrow morning, May 19, 2007. If the judge grants the stay, then the #31 car will remain with its current branding. If NASCAR’s request is denied, then NASCAR will seek an emergency stay from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday morning. Today’s ruling is limited to the facts of this particular case and does not have broad implications. NASCAR will continue to provide a sponsor friendly environment for the industry and its partners and will protect the industry from actions designed to interrupt a business model which has been beneficial to all. It is important to understand that Sprint Nextel is a cornerstone sponsor that benefits the entire industry by way of its contribution to the championship point’s fund, technology bringing fans closer to the sport, and its massive marketing and advertising campaigns.

Kenseth On All-Star Challenge Pole
Matt Kenseth rolled into his pit box and drove away 11.6 seconds later -- the quickest four-tire pit stop of qualifying -- to overtake Jimmie Johnson on Friday night and claim the pole for the Nextel All-Star Challenge. Kenseth completed three laps and the pit stop in 2 minutes, 1.40 seconds at Lowe's Motor Speedway for his second All-Star pole. Johnson, the defending race champion, was nearly 2 seconds slower and will start on the outside of row one Saturday night.

Kurt Busch qualified third, followed by Kevin Harvick and Jeff Burton for Saturday's non-points race, which includes four 20-lap segments. Kenseth's crew lost in the second round of Wednesday's Pit Crew Challenge, but was dominate Friday. Kyle Busch qualified sixth, followed by Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin and Dale Earnhardt. Jr.

Qualifying, which started in twilight and ended in near darkness, gave teams that went out later on the cooler track an advantage. But the unique format placed great importance on the pit stop. Eighteen drivers are already eligible for the All-Star race. The rest will compete in Saturday's preliminary Nextel Open, a 40-lap, two segment race whose winner and second-place cars will be transferred to Saturday's main race.

Carl Edwards won the pole for the Open with a speed of 187.487 mph in regular qualifying runs. David Ragan (186.284) will start second, followed by Dave Blaney, David Gilliland and Juan Pablo Montoya. Edwards said if he makes the All-Star race, he'll donate his winnings to charity -- even (if) it's a portion of the $1 million first-place prize. "I was so bummed out about not making the All-Star race that I thought if I make it [through the Open] it's going to be icing on the cake, a fun time," Edwards said. "Hopefully we'll the win the thing and donate a bunch of money."(nascar.com)

Also From FOX Sports On AT&T Court Victory
NASCAR can't stop AT&T Inc. from featuring its logo on Jeff Burton's No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, a federal judge ruled Friday. U.S. District Court Judge Marvin Shoob in Atlanta issued a preliminary injunction barring NASCAR and any entity affiliated with it from interfering with AT&T's rights as primary sponsor of the car in NASCAR Cup Series races.

NASCAR tried to prevent the Cingular logo from being changed to the AT&T logo on Burton's car. AT&T is the sole owner of Cingular and is rebranding the cell phone company's name to AT&T. Sprint Nextel Corp. sponsors NASCAR's premier series, the Nextel Cup, and has exclusive rights as the telecommunications company for the series. Attorneys argued the only exceptions are companies, including Cingular, that already sponsored cars when Nextel reached its agreement with NASCAR.

San Antonio-based AT&T became the full owner of Atlanta-based Cingular when it completed its purchase of Atlanta-based BellSouth Corp. in December. Cingular argued that its rights included changing its brand name to AT&T.

"NASCAR is disappointed with today's ruling but will continue to provide a sponsor friendly environment for the industry and its partners," NASCAR said in a statement. "NASCAR is currently weighing any and all options for appeal of today's decision. Meanwhile, NASCAR will continue to protect the industry from actions designed to interrupt a business model which has been beneficial to all. It is important to understand that Sprint Nextel is a cornerstone sponsor that benefits the entire industry by way of its contribution to the championship point's fund, technology bringing fans closer to the sport, and its massive marketing and advertising campaigns."

In his ruling, Shoob said, "The court concludes that the continued appearance of the Cingular brand on the No. 31 car, unaccompanied by any indication that Cingular now does business as AT&T, is likely to confuse NASCAR fans." Shoob also concluded that AT&T has shown it will suffer irreparable harm in the form of loss of goodwill and loss of exclusive rights to renew its sponsorship agreement unless the court issues the injunction.(foxsports.com)

NASCAR Loses AT&T Suit
A Federal judge has ruled in favor of phone company AT&T Mobility in their lawsuit against NASCAR and Sprint-Nextel, asking for an injunction to allow Richard Childress Racing to change the logo and sponsor name on the No. 31 team dirven by Jeff Burton. Current sponsor Cingular, was given an exemption when Nextel became entitlement sponsor of NASCAR's premier series in 2003, but when Cingular sold it's assets to AT&T, it was clear that AT&T had to to file a lawsuit against NASCAR to get the name and logo changed. More on this as it becomes available.

Denver Track Site Dropped
Commerce City (a suburb of Denver) has been dropped as a potential site for a NASCAR racetrack, making opponents happy and bringing hope to other possible sites - including Aurora. The International Speedway Corp. said Wednesday in a letter to Commerce City Mayor Paul Natale that sites in other cities have emerged as better overall opportunities for the racetrack.

ISC executive Wesley Harris said the 1,300-acre parcel the company was considering near Denver International Airport was not compatible with its needs. A community galvanizing against the racetrack also played a role in the ISC's backing out of Commerce City, Harris said. "It was a combination of factors," he said. "And clearly, we listen closely to what's going on in the communities we are looking at."

Kathy McIntyre, a resident of the Reunion housing development close to the racetrack site, was happy about the decision. "It's a good day in Commerce City," she said. "We banded together to make sure our quality of life wouldn't be ruined by this track, and it worked."

McIntyre and other racetrack opponents spoke out at several public meetings soon after the ISC announced in February that it was looking at the Commerce City location. An April election also ushered in a majority of City Council members who were skeptical that a racetrack would be good for the city. The council was considering a ballot proposal aimed at blocking the city from offering economic incentives for a racetrack within 9 miles of any residential subdivision.

Natale said the city might have been more welcoming if the ISC would have unveiled its plans sooner. Instead, city officials heard nothing but rumors and speculation. "Had they just come forward and told us what they were thinking, we might have worked something out," Natale said.

The ISC is still looking at several other sites in the Denver metro area, including a parcel near Front Range Airport in Aurora, Harris said. "We are looking at whether we can operate a facility and allow it to grow over time," he said. "We aim to be in Colorado for a long, long time."

Aurora Mayor Ed Tauer said he expects a final decision to be some time away. "We would love to have a location and economic package that works for our citizens and ISC," Tauer said after learning Commerce City had been dropped. "A track would be a terrific amenity."

Front Range Airport director Dennis Heap said the Aurora site is likely to be seen now as a prime location for the track.(denverpost.com)

RCR-DEI Merge Engine Program
One of NASCAR’s greatest partnerships – Childress and Earnhardt – has been expanded with the creation of Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies. Richard Childress and Teresa Earnhardt announced today that the joint venture partnership will combine the Chevrolet engine departments of Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI), with engine development work to begin immediately.

Construction of a permanent stand-alone facility located between RCR and DEI will begin later this summer with completion expected by mid 2008. A specific site has not been announced, although a location has been identified pending zoning approval. Until that facility is complete, all work will be divided between the RCR’s engine shop in Welcome, N.C. and DEI’s shop in Mooresville, N.C. It is anticipated that all six RCR and DEI cars will run the first common engine at Daytona in July.

Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies will develop and build engines for the Chevrolet NASCAR Nextel Cup Series and NASCAR Busch Series teams campaigned by the two companies. A long-term goal of the joint venture will include an engine leasing program for teams in NASCAR’s top three divisions. The partnership also has long-term plans to diversify and expand beyond NASCAR by providing race engines to teams competing in series such as the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, various off-road and stock car series, sports car series, etc.

“With the direction this sport has taken over the last few years, Teresa and I began talking about ways we could partner together to gain a competitive advantage and, at the same time, expand our resources,” said Richard Childress, President and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “Both RCR and DEI have proven that a three-car team can build its own engines and compete at the top, and combining the resources of both companies gives us even greater efficiencies and the competitive advantages we’re looking for.”

This is not the first time RCR and DEI have worked together in a technology partnership. RAD, an acronym for the three teams owned by Richard Childress, Andy Petree and Dale Earnhardt, was formed in the mid 1990’s as an aerodynamic consortium between the programs. The partnership was considered wildly successful with the three teams dominating the aerodynamically sensitive restrictor plate tracks Daytona and Talladega for the next few years.

“It is a great day for us to be able to work closely again with Richard and RCR,” said Dale Earnhardt, Inc. CEO Teresa Earnhardt. “Both of us are in the middle of developing and building Chevrolet’s new R07 engine, so this is a perfect time to establish this company to combine resources and work together to get the most out of this package possible. Richard and I both have committed substantial resources to this new company and we share the No. 1 priority to win championships.”

Dale Earnhardt and Childress earned six of Earnhardt’s seven NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championships (1986, ’87, ’90, ’91, ’93, ’94) together at RCR. Over a 20-year span that began when Earnhardt replaced Childress behind the wheel of RCR’s No. 3 Chevrolet for the final 10 races of the 1981 season, the combination scored 67 victories (of Earnhardt’s career total of 76) and legendary status in the world of motorsports.

Busch Series To Test Canadian Track
In preparation for its second international event of the season – and its inaugural race in Canada – the NASCAR Busch Series will conduct a test on Tuesday, June 12 at the famed Circuit Gilles Villeneuve road course in Montreal, Quebec, site of the NAPA Auto Parts 200 presented by Dodge on August 4.

Richard Childress Racing and Terry Labonte, the two-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series champion (1984, 1996) and winner of 11 races in the NASCAR Busch Series – four of those on the road course at Watkins Glen International – will be the test team. RCR, with driver Jeff Burton, was also the test team in January 2005 prior to the inaugural event at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.

“I was excited when I got the call asking if I was willing to drive at the test,” Labonte said. “I’m happy to share my opinions on things like gear ratio with the drivers who will race at this track. The fans in Canada are so passionate about their racing. I’m really looking forward to this opportunity.”

“We’re thrilled to conduct our test program at this world-class venue,” NASCAR Busch Series Director Joe Balash said. “Our teams are looking forward to racing at such a unique facility in August. We’re pleased that an experienced driver like Terry, along with the RCR team, is able to help us out with the test. We’ll gain very valuable data to share with our teams in preparation for the race.”

The one-day test has two sessions, scheduled from 9 a.m.–noon and 1–5:00 p.m. on the 2.709-mile course. The NAPA Auto Parts 200 will be a 74-lap (200.466 miles) event and is the second of three road races on the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series schedule. The Watkins Glen road course will host the Zippo 200 on August 11.

Hornaday Wins 30th Truck Race
Ron Hornaday Jr. had a very fast truck at Lowe's Motor Speedway on Friday night, so fast that there wasn't much competition. Hornaday took victory in the Quaker Steak and Lube 200 Craftsman Truck race and it was his first win since July of last year. Driving for Kevin Harvick, the 48 year-old driver fended off A.J. Allmindinger in a green-white-checkers finish to win his 30th career Truck Series race. Hornaday led three times for 98 laps to earn WIX Filters Lap Leader of the Race honors for the first time this season. With his fifth top-10 finish in the six NCTS races run to this point in the season, Hornaday now sits third in points, just 106 points behind the leader.

"It took me a long time to get used to this place," said Hornaday. "I am the type of driver that is just gung-ho and overdrives the track. When I got hired by Kevin, he showed me how to drive it and I just got going well through the bumps in three and four, figured out how to do it and ran really well that night and (then) they repaved it. We actually ran decent last year, but it is one of those tracks where you have to be right on and good. It took a while and Rick Ren (Hornaday's crew chief) has been around here enough times with different drivers and we hit the setup right on. When people ask me what is my favorite track, I always tell them it is the ones I win at, so right now this is one of my favorite tracks."